Cesar Mireles of Richey, who pulled off double wins in the five-mile and three-mile races in 2017, had to settle for just crossing the three-mile finish line in exactly 151/2 minutes to win the $100 top prize. Teagan Olson took second, 20 second behind Mireles, and Matthew Handwerk of Coeur d’Alene got third with a 16:17 final.

Mireles, the cross-country coach for the Richey-Lambert Fusion, enjoyed his effort in the three-mile.

“There wasn’t near as much competition in the three-mile as there was in the five-mile,” Mireles said. He finished eighth overall in the five mile, just seven seconds ahead of the women’s five-mile winner, Cheyngeno, for which he laughed. “She was right behind me. She almost beat me.

“That five-mile field was just stacked this year, and they ran well. But it was a little more relaxing on the three-mile. The weather was great, it wasn’t hot, no wind, just a nice breeze. It was great.”

Justin Burd of Browning took the No. 4 slot, just :06 before the top woman in the three-mile, Heather Lieberg of Helena, collected top prize of $100 when she crossed in a time of 17:13. Great Falls High’s Henry Kakalecik was sixth at 17:20, Nate McDonald of Arizona was seventh, and University of Providence track and field coach Bill Brist showed a time of 17.44 in eighth.